Contents

Theory

Alexander N. Chumakov. Triosphere, Epometamorphosis and New Problems of Global Studies (рр. 3–15). Original text and References

The article discusses the new phenomena of the global world that have not yet become the subject of special consideration in the modern global studies. This primarily concerns three closely interrelated planetary spheres: geological, biological, and social, as well as their evolution and specific stages of development. By analyzing these spheres, the author offers original approaches their understanding and invents special concepts, revealing the essence of new objects of global studies. All this poses new objectives for global studies.

Keywords: triosphere, epometamorphosis, global studies, geosphere, biosphere, sociosphere, process, era.

Elena N. Knyazeva, Alexey L. Alyushin. Big History: Evolutionary Thinking in Global Perspective (рр. 16–31). Original text and References

The integral and synthetic opportunities of the Big History concept, which has been rapidly developing in the late decades, are considered in the article. The conception is close to the approach of universal evolutionism but has its peculiar features which are significant for establishing constructive principles of management, global strategic vision, futures studies, and effective decision-making in the global context. Within Big History framework, social (including spiritual), biological, geological, and astrophysical history are considered as stages of the universal evolutionary process determined by all-pervading vectors of development and by mega-trends. Some general laws from Big Bang to networks of super-reason studied in the frames of this conception. Strategies of managerial, prognostic and entrepreneurial activities are discussed as well.

Keywords: Big History, globalization, innovation, co-evolution, interdisciplinary synthesis of knowledge, universal evolutionism, holism.

Marat A. Cheshkov. On Ability of Scientific Knowledge to Understand the Structure and Transformations of the 21^st Century (рр. 32–47). Original text and References

The subject of our study is the unity of the world and its scientific understanding. Not only the world, but human and humankind are analyzed, but the main subject of cognition is the modern scientific knowledge as an adequate method of comprehension of a human and humankind. According to the author, an adequate solution of the problem requires rethinking of the modern science founded by the logical knowledge which is necessary but it is not sufficient for the understanding of the real situation and the processes of transformation of a human and mankind.

Keywords: scientific knowledge, human universe, world universe, knowledge about the world, worldview, universe, future.

Processes of globalization

Viktor A. Los'. Socio-Natural Dimension of Globalization (рр. 48–56). Original text and References

The article analyzes peculiar features of contemporary global ecological situation. The author emphasizes its global nature and systemic process of the interrelations between human, society, and biosphere. Overcoming of the acute global ecological contradictions is connected with civilization's achieving the level of world strategy of sustainable development among whose basic features is the realization of ideas about the development of “green” economy.

Keywords: evolution of global ecological system, systemic interrelations between humans, society, and biosphere, global strategy of sustainable development, “green” economy.

Dmitriy M. Makhnovsky. Globalization and Development of World Cities Network (рр. 57–70). Original text and References

This article explores the current state of the network of global cities. Global city – designated “excessive” concentrations of the primary resources of the world development, the “cradle” of most socio-economic and political innovations. Major cities are becoming more communicative, involved in network formation functions. Their role as key elements of the basic carcass of settlement is increasing. The most popular typology of the world's cities comes from the degree of their involvement in the network of world cities due to the activities of service firms. We highlight three main and one additional typological level. The correlation analysis conducted by the author revealed a strong correlation between global network connectivity (“connectedness”) of the world's leading cities and their basic general characteristics of development.

Keywords: globalization, world cities, global cities, world city network, settlement system, services, typology.

Irina Yu. Khovavko. The Concept of Sustainable Development in the Context of Globalization (pp. 71–84). Original text and References

The environmental issues provide wide opportunities for influence on economic and social life of society. They can impose on societies disadvantageous solutions as well. An adequate assessment of environmental problems and the solutions proposed by the world community will allow us to correctly pose priorities of our policy. It is extremely important for Russia, as it possesses the biggest stocks of natural resources – more than a quarter of the world natural capital.

Keywords: sustainable development, natural capital, externalities, environmental restrictions of economic growth, internalization.

Global issues

Nikolay P. Ryabchenko. Wars: Unresolved Problem of Mankind (рр. 85–96). Original text and References

Wars have accompanied mankind since ancient times and are closely connected with its history. The most common causes of wars: demographic pressure, the influence of the east-west dynamics, and evolution of the patriarchal system. In the globalizing world the exacerbation of existing and not resolved contradictions is fraught with great upheavals and wars. The development of weapons to the highest point – nuclear and missiles weapons gave humankind an opportunity to access space, as well as to penetrate the microcosm, and it opens a wide field of peaceful activities. But even if the weapons are not used there remains the problem of violence, which may be imposed via more subtle methods of affecting human consciousness and psyche that occurs in the course of information and psychological wars.

Keywords: war, weapons, violence, demographic cycles, West, East, patri-archy.

Igor L. Andreev, Lionella N. Nazarova. Does Mental Apocalypse Threaten Mankind? (pp. 97–109). Original text and References

Among the numerous pessimistic scenarios of the sad future for humankind there is overlooked a real danger to his mental degradation. This article analyzes some of the factors composing it.

Keywords: globalization, human, society, mental health, psychosocial stress, biosphere, noosphere, ecology of mind, intelligence.

Nature, society, and humans

Vardan G. Torosyan. Cultural Capitulation as Symptom/Reason/Consequence of the Decline of Europe (рр. 110–120). Original text and References

Turning to the work of Oswald Spengler, namely, “The Decline of Europe”, the author recalls that Spengler counted the sunset from the beginning of the nineteenth century and related its culmination to the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The article points out that the early nineteenth century was marked by the crisis and the actual failure of the largest European project – the Enlightenment, while the beginning of twenty-first century by the failure of united multicultural Europe. The difference, however, is that in the former case the position of Eurocentrism was dominant, and now, on the contrary, there is a blurring of the European cultural identity and the actual cultural surrender of Europe. This, in equal measure, is a symptom and a cause and a consequence of a very destructive process.

Keywords: “Untergang des Abendlandes”, Eurocentrism, multiculturalism, cultural and civilizational fracture, cultural capitulation.

Yuriy V. Oleynikov, Tatiana V. Borzova. Philosophical Understanding of the Global Problem of Interaction of Society and Nature (рр. 121–132). Original text and References

The paper considers the role and methodological function of philosophy in understanding the essence and subject matter of global processes of nature and society interaction. The author formulates the prospects and directions of further research of anthropogenic evolution of socio-natural Universum.

Keywords: global problem, global processes, interaction of nature and society, ecology, noosphere, ecosystem.

Marianna D. Napso. Nationalist Ideology in the Context of Globalization (pp. 133–139). Original text and References

The object of the analysis of the present article is the ideology of nationalism, and the subject is the interrelation between the processes of globalisation and manifestations of nationalism. The author studies the nature of nationalism, its place and demand within globalization context. We also consider the interrelation between global and local, the influence local practices and local identity on the character of globalization processes. The author examines the nature of the phenomena of glokalization and fragmagration, their role in decreasing the risks of nationalism. The special importance is acquired by the issues connected with realization of national interests which influence the formation of ideology of nationalism.

Keywords: globalization, nationalism, cosmopolitism, homogenisation, heterogenisation, glokalization, fragmagration, identity, local, particularism.

Reviews

Mikhail V. Ilyin. The Arab Spring in the World-System Context (рр. 140–142). Original text and References